How to Avoid Bites and Stings While Scouting in Warm Weather

Depending on what part of the country you live in, these critters might not pose much of a threat to you. If you live in states that serve sweet tea or promote dry, arid temps, you probably think about them a lot. While the odds of getting bit by a snake remain low, and even lower for death-related bites, I’m willing to bet most hunters would still rather exercise a bit of caution when it comes to creepy crawlies. Even if you aren’t worried about snake bites, no one wants to give up red meat because they forgot their tick repellent.

For many hunters out West or down South, there’s a long list of critters that bite and sting. A lot of them can be venomous, poisonous, or carry diseases. Here are a few.

• Rattlesnakes
• Spiders
• Fire ants
• Scorpions
• Ticks
• Mosquitos
• Alligators
• Wasps
• Yellowjackets

You don’t need to develop a phobia, or even expect to see these every time you hunt, but a little awareness and a few helpful pieces of gear can save you a headache—or a trip to the ER.

I prefer to hunt in hiking boots, but the vast bottomland habitat and swamps of the South don’t make that feasible. Nor do the cottonmouths, eastern diamondbacks, or copperheads that call it home. I’m fascinated by snakes, and I love seeing them in the wild, but I’m not interested in paying for antivenom. Snakes are mostly docile. You have to agitate them (or mistakenly sit on them) for them to strike at you. But if you’re frequenting areas where they live, consider investing in a pair of snake boots.

The Lacrosse Alpha Agility Snake Boots make a great option. They’re uninsulated, and I don’t mind covering several miles in a day during turkey season because they’re relatively lightweight for rubber boots. The uppers are also plenty stiff enough even if a snake were to strike. So far, I’ve logged dozens of miles in a single pair over the past four years, and they’re still going strong.

If you hunt in dry, arid parts of the country, a pair of gaiters can serve the same purpose as snake boots without the added weight or sweat.

Along with transmitting diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and a host of others, ticks (lone star tick in particular) can even transmit alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to red meat in those affected. Luckily, there are easy, cost-effective ways to combat these pesky parasites.

You can treat your clothes with permethrin prior to a hunt or scouting trip to repel ticks and mosquitos. I’ve used Sawyer permethrin in the past. You spray it on your clothes the night before, and it supposedly lasts six weeks before you need to reapply. My hunting clothes usually go through several washes within a few weeks, so I end up reapplying sooner anyway. For around $15, it’s a budget-friendly way to make sure you don’t leave the woods with any unwanted guests.

If you’re in the market for new hunting clothes anyway, consider gear with built-in insect repellent. First Lite’s Yuma synthetic hoody incorporates Burlington No Fly Zone to repel mosquitos and ticks. This means you’re covered if you happen to forget your Thermacell or spray back at the truck.

Clothes with built-in insect repellent are typically rated for so many washes. This means after a certain amount of washes or time (whichever comes first) the repellent wears out. So, you will have to invest in spray or treat the clothing again at some point.

Whether you’re visiting a buggy destination for hunting or scouting, here are a few things to keep in mind when the temps rise.

• Wear longer socks
• Use rubber or snake boots in warm, wet climates
• Treat your clothes with insect repellent
• Check your surroundings before sitting or kneeling
• Snakes are mostly docile…unless you antagonize them
• Look before you cross/jump a creek
• Check for ticks after scouting or hunting when it’s warm
• Make sure you don’t stand in an ant bed in the dark
• If you’re moving treestands in the summer, bring wasp spray
• Carry an EpiPen if you’re allergic to bees/wasps